Miles Mikolas Bio
Miles Tice Mikolas (MY-koh-lahs; born August 23, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, and St. Louis Cardinals, as well as in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants. Mikolas was an All-Star in 2018, where he tied with Jon Lester and Max Scherzer for the lead in the National League in wins that season and finished sixth in the NL Cy Young Award voting. He was also named an All-Star again in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Miles Mikolas was born on August 23, 1988, in the United States. He attended Jupiter Community High School in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he began to develop his skills as a pitcher. After graduating in 2006, he continued his education at Nova Southeastern University, playing college baseball for the Nova Southeastern Sharks. During his junior year in 2009, Mikolas had a standout season, achieving a 7–2 record with a 2.06 earned run average (ERA) in 11 starts.
Path to Baseball
Mikolas was selected by the San Diego Padres in the seventh round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He began his professional career in the minor leagues, pitching for the Class-A Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2010, where he had a successful season with a 6–3 record and 13 saves. His performance earned him a promotion to the Double-A San Antonio Missions in 2011, where he continued to excel. Mikolas made his MLB debut on May 5, 2012, after being called up from the minor leagues.
Miles Mikolas Career
Early Career (2012-2014)
Mikolas made his first notable impact in Major League Baseball during his time with the San Diego Padres. In his debut season, he appeared in 13 games, finishing with a 2–1 record and a 3.62 ERA. Following his time with the Padres, he was traded to the Texas Rangers, where he had a challenging season in 2014, going 2–5 with a 6.44 ERA in ten starts.
Breakthrough (2015-2019)
After a brief stint in the MLB, Mikolas signed with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league in 2015. He found significant success there, compiling a 31–13 record with a 2.18 ERA over three seasons. His strong performance in Japan led to his return to Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018. Mikolas quickly established himself as a key player for the Cardinals, winning his debut game and later throwing a shutout against the Kansas City Royals. He finished the 2018 season with an impressive 18–4 record and was named to the All-Star Game.
Notable Works and Milestones
Throughout his career, Miles Mikolas has achieved several milestones, including being named an All-Star in 2018 and 2022. He was the National League wins leader in 2018 and finished sixth in the voting for the NL Cy Young Award that year.
Miles Mikolas Award Nominations
Miles Mikolas has received recognition for his performances, including multiple All-Star selections and a notable finish in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
Miles Mikolas Awards Won
Mikolas has won several awards throughout his career, including being named an All-Star in 2018 and 2022, and leading the National League in wins in 2018.
Miles Mikolas Family
Miles Mikolas is married to Lauren Mikolas, who has worked as an elementary school teacher and a wellness coach. The couple has three children: a daughter born in 2017 and twins, a son and a daughter, born in 2018.
Personal Life
Mikolas is known for his unique personality, which includes the nickname “Lizard King,” a title he earned after eating a lizard during a bet in the 2011 Arizona Fall League. His wife, Lauren, gained popularity in Japan through her lifestyle blog and has a significant social media presence.
